On June 30, the graduating ceremony of the program on China Development Studies and Media Exchange for CIPCC 2025 (first half the year), organized by the School of Journalism and Communication of Renmin University of China, was held at the Mingde Journalism Building. 58 journalists from Africa, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, and Central and Eastern Europe attended the ceremony.

The ceremony was attended by distinguished guests including Liu Yutong, Counselor of the Department of Public Affairs of the Information Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs; Yuan Yilin, Deputy Director of the Office of International Cooperation and Exchange of Renmin University of China; Yan Yan, Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee of the School of Journalism and Communication of Renmin University of China; and Lou Danzhu, Director of the China-Africa Press Exchange Center.

The ceremony was presided over by Zhong Xin, Professor of the School of Journalism and Communication of Renmin University of China and Director of the CIPCC Program. She stated that, as the program director, she had the honor of witnessing the program's development over more than a decade and had established strong bonds of friendship with journalists from around the world. In the future, the School will continue to refine the curriculum and strive to build a more in-depth and influential platform for international communication and exchange.

In her speech, Yuan Yilin extended warm congratulations to the 58 journalists from 50 countries on the successful completion of the training. She pointed out that since its inception in 2014, the CIPCC program has been held for 11 consecutive years, becoming an important platform for promoting exchanges between Chinese and foreign media and enhancing mutual understanding and cooperation. She expressed sincere gratitude for the long-standing support from the China International Press Communication Center.She then systematically introduced the latest progress in the development of the international communication discipline at the School of Journalism and Communication of Renmin University of China. She noted that the school is committed to building an integrated talent cultivation system for undergraduate, master, and doctoral programs. Among these, the first all-English Doctoral Program in Global Communication will be inaugurated in September 2025, and more international media professionals are welcome to come to China for advanced studies, exchanges, and cooperation.

Liu Yutong extended his warm congratulations to the journalists from various countries for successfully completing the training program. He noted that over the past four months, the journalists had conducted in-depth visits to multiple regions across China, gaining a more comprehensive and profound understanding of China's development status and social landscape through field research and personal observation.

Yuan Yilin, Liu Yutong, Yan Yan, and Lou Danzhu presented the completion certificates to the journalists.

Mugisha Nshuti Christian, a journalist from the Africa Center, spoke on behalf of the participants and expressed his sincere gratitude for the program. He reflected on his four-month experience of studying and conducting research in China, stating that this visit had greatly broadened his understanding of China and global development. He pointed out that China's modernization is not a simple replication of the Western model, but rather a unique path that highlights values such as independent innovation and a people-centered approach. He emphasized that journalists should uphold respect and integrity, listening, investigating, and thinking in a diverse world, and use truthful reporting to foster understanding and communication between different civilizations.

Shahrokh Saei, a journalist from the Asia-Pacific Center representing the participants, stated that the CIPCC Media Exchange Program was not only a professional training program, but also a journey of discovery to gain in-depth understanding of China's development and global cooperation. He believed that through field visits and thematic studies, international media professionals were able to perceive contemporary China—vibrant with innovation and committed to peace and cooperation—from a more objective and impartial perspective. Furthermore, he deepened his understanding of the mission of journalism and strengthened his conviction in promoting cross-cultural understanding through truthful reporting.

Dwayne Anthony Anderson, a Jamaican journalist and representative of the Latin America and Caribbean Centre, said that the training experience was enriching and unforgettable, not only enhancing his understanding of China's society and culture, but also providing a platform for journalists from different countries for communication and critical thinking. He stated that he would integrate this experience into his future work, creating reports with greater depth and warmth. He also thanked the project team for their thoughtful arrangements and looked forward to the opportunity to return to China in the future, to further explore this vibrant land.

Tania Glouhtcheva, a Bulgarian journalist and representative of the Central and Eastern Europe Center, recalled her experience in China, saying that this journey not only enriched her professional knowledge but also brought profound intellectual inspiration, giving her a clearer understanding of the development philosophy of contemporary China. She said that although she is about to return to China, she has regarded China as her "second hometown" and looks forward to promoting more meaningful exchanges and cooperation between China and foreign countries in the future.

After the ceremony, foreign journalists visited the Museum of Renmin University of China, where they admired historical artifacts and artworks, and learned about the university's development history.

The "China Development Studies and Media Exchange" project, jointly organized by Renmin University of China and China International Press Communication Center, has successfully been held for 11 years. The project has trained hundreds of foreign media journalists and opinion leaders, making positive contributions to strengthening news exchanges and deepening friendship between China and countries in Africa, the Asia-Pacific, Central and Eastern Europe, Latin America, and the Caribbean. The journalists participating in the training will become an important bond to promote friendly exchanges between China and people from all over the world, and the stories they tell about China will also help the world better understand China.

Translator: Ke Tong, Lei Zhongyue, Jia Yaxin